Irani said that, two crore women who were working in kitchens which used traditional fuels that filled them with smoke have benefitted from PM Narendra Modi's LPG connections drive. These women are definitely seeing better days, she said.

Smriti Irani lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for the surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir last year. (PTI)

Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani while answering a question on BJP’s poll promises at the India Today Conclave said that crores of people have benefitted from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) policies. Irani said, ”Achhe din depends on how you describe the term”. Irani said that, two crore women who were working in kitchens which used traditional fuels that filled them with smoke have benefitted from PM Narendra Modi’s LPG connections drive. These women are definitely seeing better days, she said.

Irani also said that there are seven crore people who have benefitted from government’s Mudra Yojana. Irani added that ”The central government is giving the citizens of India an opportunity to take part in policy-making by letting people send their suggestions directly to the Prime Minister, this measure has empowered the common man. Our government works for the betterment of the citizens.

Smriti Irani, who lost the Amethi seat to Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and will face him again in the 2019 poll refused to make a political statement against Rahul Gandhi at the India Today platform.

Irani said that she will not say anything against Rahul as today is his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s death anniversary. Irani said, ”I will not speak anything about Rahul Gandhi, I will spare him today as he is mourning the death of his father”. She added that a comment today will be in bad taste and that it is not her style to attack at such times.

Irani, meanwhile still reiterated that her focus is still on Amethi. She said that the constituency has not developed in the last 60 years under the Congress. Irani said, ”I was hurt by what I saw in Amethi in 2014. I was hurt not because I am a politician, but because I am human”. The Union minister added, ”I once saw an old woman pick up pulses from the ground so that she could have lentils for dinner, this is what makes me return to Amethi”.
Irani also used the India Today platform to attack the Samajwadi Party which according to her ignored Amethi due to political reasons. Irani said SP ignored the constituency because they did not want to spoil their equation with the Congress.